GALVESTON, Texas – A father is suing the Galveston Independent School District after his daughter jumped from a school bus and died.
Darrell Thomas says his 13 year old daughter My'Kayla could light up a room.
"We need closure so we can have peace about my daughter's death" said Thomas. "She would walk in a room full of strangers and start dancing, I have never seen her having a sad day."
On Dec. 7, Thomas says he was driving to his mother's house when he passed a terrible accident on I-45. He said a prayer but never imagined it was his daughter he was praying for.
"I looked over and saw them administering CPR but I had no idea it was my daughter," says Thomas.
Thomas is suing the Galveston Independent School District for negligence, he believes lead to his daughter's death.
The lawsuit asserts, “This particular GISD bus transported special needs students and was not to be operated without both video cameras operational and an extra adult aide on board to protect the children.”
Deputies say My'Kayla was riding the bus home to Galveston from an alternative school in Texas City. Investigators say My'Kayla got into some type of an altercation with another student. The bus driver intervened and separated the two girls. My'Kayla was sent to the back of the bus and the other student was told to sit up front.
Moments later, investigators say My'Kayla intentionally jumped from the emergency door in the back. Thomas says his daughter would never do that.
"The school district put out there that she just jumped off the bus, and they expect that the parents should just accept that. That is not enough. It is not acceptable," says Eraka Watson, Thomas' attorney.
Galveston ISD released the following statement:
"The school district has not been served with a copy of the lawsuit. Therefore, we cannot respond to the
allegations contained in the lawsuit at this time."